The author's research topics include economic and legal questions concerning prostitution and drug use. There are two extreme models in these two areas, one represented by Sweden and the other by the Netherlands. Swe...The author's research topics include economic and legal questions concerning prostitution and drug use. There are two extreme models in these two areas, one represented by Sweden and the other by the Netherlands. Sweden votes for the model of a "prostitution and drug free society", while the latter represents a looser, more liberal view. This presentation aims to answer the question whether the statistics support the presumptions of either model. To shed light on these issues, facts and figures published by the Swedish and Dutch statistics offices as well as other studies on the subject were analyzed. During the course of the past few decades. the income from the prostitution and drug markets in Sweden was virtually unchanged. This may be considered as a failure: prostitution and drug use could not be decreased further. It may also be considered as an achievement: while these two markets were growing in many countries, at least in the case of Sweden the situation did not become worse. It seems that the liberal regulation of drugs and prostitution in the Netherlands has not been a successful venture. It is no wonder that there are plans for changes and limitations to the prostitution sector with new regulations, although complete prohibition has not been raised as an issue. The consumption of drugs has been increasing. In this respect, alongside the liberal stance on the issue, increasing emphasis is placed on deterrence from light drugs.展开更多
文摘The author's research topics include economic and legal questions concerning prostitution and drug use. There are two extreme models in these two areas, one represented by Sweden and the other by the Netherlands. Sweden votes for the model of a "prostitution and drug free society", while the latter represents a looser, more liberal view. This presentation aims to answer the question whether the statistics support the presumptions of either model. To shed light on these issues, facts and figures published by the Swedish and Dutch statistics offices as well as other studies on the subject were analyzed. During the course of the past few decades. the income from the prostitution and drug markets in Sweden was virtually unchanged. This may be considered as a failure: prostitution and drug use could not be decreased further. It may also be considered as an achievement: while these two markets were growing in many countries, at least in the case of Sweden the situation did not become worse. It seems that the liberal regulation of drugs and prostitution in the Netherlands has not been a successful venture. It is no wonder that there are plans for changes and limitations to the prostitution sector with new regulations, although complete prohibition has not been raised as an issue. The consumption of drugs has been increasing. In this respect, alongside the liberal stance on the issue, increasing emphasis is placed on deterrence from light drugs.